Xcel Energy Center

Although waste reduction was the first initiative to roll out at these facilities, energy efficiency and carbon footprint reduction are equally important to becoming leaders in sustainability. Therefore a strategic initiative around energy followed shortly after the start of ‘50-50 in 2.’

The 2007-2008 “benchmark” assessed the energy use of Saint Paul RiverCentre and Xcel Energy Center in comparison with similar buildings in the Midwest. It also looked at the operational carbon footprint of these facilities, largely related to their energy use and waste stream.

The assessment revealed that both facilities were doing better than average in terms of energy use, but not by enough to be considered ‘leaders’ according to the US Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification program. In terms of carbon emissions, the two facilities’ combined carbon footprint was just over 20,000 metric tons per year, with over 80% coming from their electricity use.

Again, facility officials created goals that would help them become regional leaders on these fronts.

Over three years, they would:

Reduce the operational carbon footprint of the facilities by 80%

Increase the buildings’ efficiency to 20% better than average (the minimum for LEED is 19%)

Facility leaders approached this program with the same strategic process as the waste initiative, and focused on three areas for improvement: Operating existing equipment more efficiently, upgrading to more efficient equipment when feasible, and the addition of both on-site and off-site renewable energy. The following changes have been made thus far:

The facilities developed a 3-year Joint Energy Efficiency Plan, in conjunction with Xcel Energy, to provide a timeline for equipment upgrades that would make the most of Xcel’s efficiency rebates.
With help from a federal grant and Xcel rebates, Saint Paul RiverCentre upgraded 1,087 lights in its parking ramp from high pressure sodium to fluorescent - saving $50,000 annually while improving the lighting in that area.
The Operations and Security departments have partnered to minimize energy use during non-event periods, or when the buildings are ‘Dark.’ Each night they check all areas of the building to make sure vacant spaces are using as little energy as possible.

A 1 MW solar thermal array, the largest in the Midwest, was completed atop Saint Paul RiverCentre in March of 2011. The project was made possible by a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) “Solar America Communities” program and matching funds from District Energy St. Paul.
Events now have an option to participate in Windsource® for Events – Xcel Energy’s wind power program, available in short-term blocks for event offset. Participants thus far have included the University of Minnesota’s E3 Conference, Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Swarm, the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, the Visa Gymnastics Championships, and the Minnesota Rollergirls.
An 82 kW solar photovoltaic system was recently completed on the south wall of the RiverCentre parking ramp. It will generate approximately 100,000 kWh of electricity per year, and was funded with grant dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Minnesota Department of Commerce.

Two years into this three-year goal, the facilities have achieved the following:

Saint Paul RiverCentre		Xcel Energy Center
18.5% more efficient than average		18.1% more efficient than average
33% carbon footprint reduction		14% carbon footprint reduction

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